Jekyll2020-01-25T02:41:36+00:00http://dogplusplus.com/feed.xmldog++Joey DollSite migration2020-01-23T00:00:00+00:002020-01-23T00:00:00+00:00http://dogplusplus.com/2020/01/23/jekyll<p>After running this site on Dreamhost and Wordpress for many years, I grew tired of the cost (~$120/yr) and complexity (Wordpress vulnerabilities, dependencies, database backend) that came with it.</p>
<p>I considered shutting the whole thing down, but then realized that this site has survived for almost 20 years and through four different incarnations (Go Banana, The Lost Cost, Guys Like Dolls, Dog++) so it wasn’t going to die today if I could help it.</p>
<p>So I began looking for free and simple hosting solutions. After some research, I came across <a href="https://pages.github.com/">Github Pages</a>. I already use it for my <a href="http://jcdoll.github.io">resume</a>, but I learned that <a href="https://jekyllrb.com/">Jekyll</a> is supported as well. Jekyll is a nice lightweight framework for simple websites that keeps all content in plain text files - great for portability when this solution breaks down the road.</p>
<p>The net result is a free hosting solution (Github) based on a collection of text files (Jekyll). No vulnerabilities to deal with, no database migrations or updates, and no ongoing cost to keep stuff on the internet.</p>
<p>After <a href="https://github.com/thomasf/exitwp">migrating</a> the website contents from Wordpress to Jekyll, I just had to point my DNS servers at Github and it was all set.</p>jcdollAfter running this site on Dreamhost and Wordpress for many years, I grew tired of the cost (~$120/yr) and complexity (Wordpress vulnerabilities, dependencies, database backend) that came with it.Solar eclipse2017-08-21T00:00:00+00:002017-08-21T00:00:00+00:00http://dogplusplus.com/2017/08/21/solar-eclipse<p>First off - we moved to Bend. We <a href="/2016/11/22/labor-day-in-bend.html">liked it</a> a little too much.</p>
<p>Second - here are some photos from the total solar eclipse this morning. Bend was outside the zone of totality, so we drove about 20 miles north and then rode our mountain bikes another 7 miles, staying off the freeway to avoid traffic. We randomly stumbled upon a rocky bluff, which provided a nice view with Smith Rock State Park as a backdrop.</p>
<p><a href="https://500px.com/photo/224678819/untitled-by-j-doll">
<img src="https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/224678819/m%3D900/v2?user_id=16055993&webp=true&sig=e98b8d94bbc2639eb106c97e6ca2878513322d61130f98bdd09a9dc94b7c57fb" alt="Untitled by Joey Doll on 500px.com" />
</a></p>
<p><a href="https://500px.com/photo/224678745/untitled-by-j-doll">
<img src="https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/224678745/m%3D900/v2?user_id=16055993&webp=true&sig=8aabb56d491a0b65bf0bdb18ba166ed7258858821c7c47f70e15f8911b86ce89" alt="Untitled by Joey Doll on 500px.com" />
</a></p>
<p><a href="https://500px.com/photo/224678191/untitled-by-j-doll">
<img src="https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/224678191/m%3D900/v2?user_id=16055993&webp=true&sig=fb71026fb392fde6939e365e63b8e030284458caf2279b534e91e0c6485264e1" alt="Untitled by Joey Doll on 500px.com" />
</a></p>
<p><a href="https://500px.com/photo/224678165/untitled-by-j-doll">
<img src="https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/224678165/m%3D900/v2?user_id=16055993&webp=true&sig=55c1dd442536be781a17e54aae8aa4c7cb6470b3fbcc00dc127930e43c1452db" alt="Untitled by Joey Doll on 500px.com" />
</a></p>jcdollFirst off - we moved to Bend. We liked it a little too much.Hoover Wilderness (Fremont Lake)2016-11-22T00:00:00+00:002016-11-22T00:00:00+00:00http://dogplusplus.com/2016/11/22/hoover-wilderness-fremont-lake<p><a href="https://500px.com/photo/174806469/untitled-by-joey-doll">
<img src="https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/174806469/m%3D900/c4998d937329a677c419ea29ce985ffa" alt="Untitled by Joey Doll on 500px.com" />
</a></p>
<p><strong>Summary of Hoover Wilderness / Fremont Lake trip</strong></p>
<p>September 23 - 24th, 2016
<a href="https://500px.com/jcdoll/galleries/hoover-wilderness-2016">Photos</a>
<a href="https://www.gaiagps.com/datasummary/track/2bd77a19fc6832afaa4c6e15dd892c58">GPS track</a></p>
<p><strong>Saturday (9 miles)</strong>
Drive to Leavitt Meadows
Pick up permit from self-serve station
Hike south to Fremont Lake via Secret Lake</p>
<p><strong>Sunday (9 miles)</strong>
Returned via the meadow route</p>
<p><strong>Details</strong>
We took an overnight trip to Hoover Wilderness in late September with our SiTime friends. Between work schedules, we were limited to an overnight trip, and so the Leavitt Meadows trailhead was a good compromise between distance from the Bay Area and novelty. Although the <a href="http://beaut-tree.net/backpacking-crown-lake-herbert-hoover-day-1-independence-day-2016-trip/">Twin Lakes</a> trailhead and <a href="https://thepathlessbeaten.com/2013/10/11/backpacking-to-barney-lake/">Barney Lake</a> looked appealing, it would have added at least an hour to the travel time.</p>
<p>With our <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1877689890/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1877689890&linkCode=as2&tag=dogplusplus-20&linkId=b26571ec2ecf9e1f3ceaa23a9184c69a">Tom Harrison</a><img src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=dogplusplus-20&l=am2&o=1&a=1877689890" alt="" /> map in hand, we drove to Leavitt Meadows and filled out a self-serve permit form. By taking the trip after September 15th, there were not any trail quotas in effect, and the trails were relatively empty.</p>
<p>Hoover Wilderness is dog friendly, so long as you do not stray into Yosemite National Park on its southwest border. Accordingly, we brought both Lola and Max on the trip. The trails were relatively dry and dusty, although the temperatures never went far past 70F. The hike to Fremont Lake was relatively flat, with about 1000 feet of net elevation gain. We stopped by three lakes on the way (Secret, Roosevelt, Lane) and crossed the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Walker_River">West Walker River</a> after paralleling it for most of the trip.</p>
<p><a href="https://500px.com/photo/174805473/leavitt-meadow-by-joey-doll">
<img src="https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/174805473/m%3D900/5b6a2c2570b4f80e62279218f5e9e841" alt="Leavitt Meadow" />
</a></p>
<p><a href="https://500px.com/photo/174805793/untitled-by-joey-doll">
<img src="https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/174805793/m%3D900/b391a53db4182e8c61ec8592e3024fda" alt="Untitled by Joey Doll on 500px.com" />
</a></p>
<p><a href="https://500px.com/photo/174805711/roosevelt-lake-by-joey-doll">
<img src="https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/174805711/m%3D900/43dfb9c0e8076a79d684c5c4346f1deb" alt="Roosevelt Lake by Joey Doll on 500px.com" />
</a></p>
<p>The overnight temperatures were forecast to reach 30F, and so we picked up <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00XREG53W/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00XREG53W&linkCode=&tag=dogplusplus-20&linkId=">Ruffwear Quinzee</a><img src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=dogplusplus-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B00XREG53W" alt="" /> jackets for the dogs. To help with the cold, we also brought our three-person tent (<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01KH2YT0W/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B01KH2YT0W&linkCode=&tag=dogplusplus-20&linkId=">Copper Spur UL3</a><img src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=dogplusplus-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B01KH2YT0W" alt="" />) and an old Thermarest pad. Lola is pushing 10 years old, and upon reaching Fremont Lake she has happy to go hide in the tent to sleep and stay warm. Max, however, used the warmth of the jacket to stay up all night and successfully beg for Pad Thai.</p>
<p>The hike back to the car the next morning was uneventful. The weather was warmer than the day before and we opted to take an alternative route with less shade and fewer lake stops, resulting in slightly overheated dogs and people. I’d recommend sticking to the Secret Lake route for future backpackers.</p>
<p><a href="https://500px.com/photo/174806227/fremont-lake-by-joey-doll">
<img src="https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/174806227/m%3D900/23056be374af64b7caf04476bd013515" alt="Fremont Lake by Joey Doll on 500px.com" />
</a></p>
<p><a href="https://500px.com/photo/174806411/untitled-by-joey-doll">
<img src="https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/174806411/m%3D900/9921dd9b4f92d239b223a38799bbf30e" alt="Untitled by Joey Doll on 500px.com" />
</a></p>
<p>During the trip, we found that the trail maps used by GaiaGPS (OpenStreeMap-based) were inaccurate, resulting in the use of phones causing more confusion than good. We experienced a similar issue on our <a href="http://dogplusplus.com/2016/06/26/carson-pass-loop/">Carson Pass</a> trip earlier in the summer. After returning home, I bit the bullet and learned how to <a href="https://www.openstreetmap.org/changeset/42458879#map=11/38.2951/-119.2999">edit</a> maps on OpenStreetMap so that future backpackers can safely stare at their smartphones.</p>jcdollLabor Day in Bend2016-11-22T00:00:00+00:002016-11-22T00:00:00+00:00http://dogplusplus.com/2016/11/22/labor-day-in-bend<p>We drove up to <a href="http://beginnersguidetobend.com/bend-oregon-info/">Bend, Oregon</a> for a few days in early September. We liked it quite a bit, enjoying the hiking, mountain biking, and beer opportunities. Here are a few <a href="https://500px.com/jcdoll/galleries/bend-trip-2016">photos</a>.</p>
<p><a href="https://500px.com/photo/174699801/untitled-by-joey-doll">
<img src="https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/174699801/m%3D900/891922e71cf344f36d8aa46c6b8fb11b" alt="Untitled by Joey Doll on 500px.com" />
</a></p>
<p><a href="https://500px.com/photo/174699945/untitled-by-joey-doll">
<img src="https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/174699945/m%3D900/f9dae3b5ceccb1907e2e6522e55dc1dc" alt="Untitled by Joey Doll on 500px.com" />
</a></p>
<p><a href="https://500px.com/photo/174699955/todd-lake-by-joey-doll">
<img src="https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/174699955/m%3D900/11c905cecfed16050ec4b214bd50c884" alt="Todd Lake by Joey Doll on 500px.com" />
</a></p>jcdollWe drove up to Bend, Oregon for a few days in early September. We liked it quite a bit, enjoying the hiking, mountain biking, and beer opportunities. Here are a few photos.Carson Pass Loop2016-06-26T00:00:00+00:002016-06-26T00:00:00+00:00http://dogplusplus.com/2016/06/26/carson-pass-loop<p><a href="https://500px.com/photo/160296443/untitled-by-joey-doll">
<img src="https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/160296443/m%3D900/b80f5376d8cccad2d44b8278bee59d64" alt="Untitled by Joey Doll on 500px.com" />
</a></p>
<p><strong>Summary of Carson Pass Loop</strong></p>
<p>June 18 – 19th, 2016
<a href="https://500px.com/jcdoll/galleries/carson-pass-loop">Photos</a>
<a href="https://www.gaiagps.com/datasummary/track/420134134b502321eedef1b2594b1746/">GPS track</a></p>
<p><strong>Saturday (10 miles)</strong>
Drive to Carson Pass Information Center
Hike south on Pacific Crest Trail (PCT)
Hook west to approach 4th of July Lake from the backside</p>
<p><strong>Sunday (6 miles)</strong>
Hike north back to the trailhead
Drive home</p>
<p>We recently investigated options for one night backpacking trips in the Sierras starting from the Bay Area. We typically go on longer trips, but wanted to find a short weekend option.</p>
<p>After looking at options in wilderness areas near Tahoe, we settled on <a href="http://sierrawild.gov/wilderness/mokelumne">Mokelumne Wilderness</a> (<a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5403399.pdf">map</a>). We decided to start from the Carson Pass trailhead at the north end of the wilderness due to its proximity (3.5 hours) rather than starting from the south near Ebbett’s Pass. In addition, there was a promising loop on the map that placed 4th of July Lake at its approximate midpoint (see <a href="http://kevingong.com/Hiking/200209FourthOfJulyLake.html">here</a> and <a href="http://www.avidbackpackers.com/htm/trips/fourth.htm">here</a>).</p>
<p>The dogs, Cassie and I drove up on Saturday morning and picked up our permit from the information center, which is adjacent to the trailhead. Camp sites are numbered and reserved when you acquire your permit - we selected campsite number 6, although in retrospect we would recommend sites 1-3 for improved access to the lake.</p>
<p>Although there were quite a few day hikers, most turned around within a few miles, and we saw relatively few backpackers. The temperatures were perfect for the dogs (40-60 F) and there were no mosquitoes. What we did encounter was snow, varying from 50-100 foot long patches that just obscured the trail to longer snow covered slopes that required some care in crossing or cross country bypassing. Fortunately this was only an issue for us - the dogs had no trouble with the snow and Max tended to either (1) try to initiate dog battles with Lola or (2) slide down the slope, run back up and repeat.</p>
<p><a href="https://500px.com/photo/160295655/untitled-by-joey-doll">
<img src="https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/160295655/m%3D900/66cb171373643781fd0718f57c4b3d01" alt="Untitled by Joey Doll on 500px.com" />
</a></p>
<p><a href="https://500px.com/photo/160295883/untitled-by-joey-doll">
<img src="https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/160295883/m%3D900/3e5f2a864977aad1270df454edfde8b7" alt="Untitled by Joey Doll on 500px.com" />
</a></p>
<p><a href="https://500px.com/photo/160295955/untitled-by-joey-doll">
<img src="https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/160295955/m%3D900/e2658c618b1016ae622a030b85cbba25" alt="Untitled by Joey Doll on 500px.com" />
</a></p>
<p>The southward hike on the PCT was relatively nice, with frequent small streams from the melting snow but no significant creeks. After turning west towards 4th of July Lake, the trail became less distinct and clearly less trafficked. The underbrush was dense enough to cut up my legs a fair bit. On that portion of the hike we lost the trail for about a mile, due to the combination of bushwhacking and an out-of-date map in the Gaia GPS app on my phone. It was not a problem due to the wonders of GPS, fortunately.</p>
<p><a href="https://500px.com/photo/160296035/untitled-by-joey-doll">
<img src="https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/160296035/m%3D900/dde10def018b4ed32ce9ad4f2e1dcf99" alt="Untitled by Joey Doll on 500px.com" />
</a></p>
<p><a href="https://500px.com/photo/160296075/untitled-by-joey-doll">
<img src="https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/160296075/m%3D900/f5b664c4fd28fa3e3f7261710b084f7a" alt="Untitled by Joey Doll on 500px.com" />
</a></p>
<p><a href="https://500px.com/photo/160296119/untitled-by-joey-doll">
<img src="https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/160296119/m%3D900/75be045988bb5424e3442e1cd5cf7e35" alt="Untitled by Joey Doll on 500px.com" />
</a></p>
<p>We arrived at 4th of July Lake with plenty of time to cook and get settled, despite getting started on the trail slightly after noon. The only uninvited guest at the campsite was a marmot, who vanished and did not return after he saw the dogs.</p>
<p>Speaking of the dogs, this was Max’s first backpacking trip. After leaving him on leash for a requisite amount of time (Carson Pass has a special management area where dogs are technically required to be on leash) we let him run wild. Actually, he tended to stay within about 5 feet of Cassie at all times, kept in place by the invisible “leash of separation anxiety”. Lola does not have this affliction, for better or worse, and so she needed to stay on leash lest she roam too widely. We did let her off for awhile at the campsite, and although she has become more docile in her old age, she still climbed up into the rocks to look for her marmot friend.</p>
<p><a href="https://500px.com/photo/160296119/untitled-by-joey-doll">
<img src="https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/160296119/m%3D900/75be045988bb5424e3442e1cd5cf7e35" alt="Untitled by Joey Doll on 500px.com" />
</a></p>
<p><a href="https://500px.com/photo/160296187/untitled-by-joey-doll">
<img src="https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/160296187/m%3D900/a939e5d44d4360b6691f9546cacaaad6" alt="Untitled by Joey Doll on 500px.com" />
</a></p>
<p><a href="https://500px.com/photo/160296295/untitled-by-joey-doll"><img src="https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/160296295/m%3D900/a180bc3bf11bd19454a89d7495275a9a" alt="Untitled by Joey Doll on 500px.com" />
</a></p>
<p><a href="https://500px.com/photo/160296307/untitled-by-joey-doll">
<img src="https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/160296307/m%3D900/da0d6e02f364535e20f9df85a1a2a59e" alt="Untitled by Joey Doll on 500px.com" />
</a></p>
<p>On Sunday morning we headed out towards the trailhead, with a relatively short hike ahead of us. There was more snow on our return hike than on the way in, as it hugged the north side of the central peaks that our loop encompassed. There was one snow covered traverse that was particularly sketchy, with the snow covered slope terminating in what looked to be a cliff. Again, Max had a grand old time in the snow while the humans had to carefully dig into the snow on each step to avoid plummeting down the mountain. Upon getting within a half mile of the trailhead we put Max back on leash, hopped in the car, and headed out.</p>
<p>The trip was enjoyable overall. An overnight trip has a lot of benefits in terms of ease of planning and vacation day consumption. The driving was long but not too onerous, and we had enough time on the trail to tire ourselves out and see some scenery.</p>
<p>Although the low temperatures and snow made this trip a blast for the dogs, we would recommend waiting until late July or August and avoiding the southern trail segment between 4th of July Lake and the PCT.</p>
<p>In terms of photography gear, I opted to pick up an A6000 after the <a href="http://dogplusplus.com/2016/05/08/big-island-of-hawaii/">Hawaii trip</a> and brought it along with 12mm, 20mm and 55-210mm lens options.</p>
<p><a href="https://500px.com/photo/160296349/untitled-by-joey-doll">
<img src="https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/160296349/m%3D900/e6dee5dcbb93e36849991998265f0849" alt="Untitled by Joey Doll on 500px.com" />
</a></p>
<p><a href="https://500px.com/photo/160296385/untitled-by-joey-doll">
<img src="https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/160296385/m%3D900/6110280084d611796ed37643b57f8262" alt="Untitled by Joey Doll on 500px.com" />
</a></p>
<p><a href="https://500px.com/photo/160296365/untitled-by-joey-doll">
<img src="https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/160296365/m%3D900/dd745098638407f5f0263befd22876d5" alt="Untitled by Joey Doll on 500px.com" />
</a></p>jcdollBert2016-06-17T00:00:00+00:002016-06-17T00:00:00+00:00http://dogplusplus.com/2016/06/17/bert<p>Bert passed away last week at the age of 11. He was diagnosed with lymphoma a few days earlier.</p>
<p><a href="https://500px.com/photo/158154281/untitled-by-joey-doll">
<img src="https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/158154281/m%3D900/ace132c7a9679fc282954d5c3a85e31d" alt="Untitled by Joey Doll on 500px.com" />
</a></p>
<p><a href="https://500px.com/photo/158154385/untitled-by-joey-doll">
<img src="https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/158154385/m%3D900/62faef8ee53f1123c16a5e87f72d9e30" alt="Untitled by Joey Doll on 500px.com" />
</a></p>
<p><a href="https://500px.com/photo/158994147/untitled-by-joey-doll">
<img src="https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/158994147/m%3D900/5716388c50ea36295b88c7ac37f50a58" alt="Untitled by Joey Doll on 500px.com" />
</a></p>jcdollBert passed away last week at the age of 11. He was diagnosed with lymphoma a few days earlier.Big Island of Hawaii2016-05-08T00:00:00+00:002016-05-08T00:00:00+00:00http://dogplusplus.com/2016/05/08/big-island-of-hawaii<p><a href="https://500px.com/photo/145211903/golden-fields-by-joey-doll">
<img src="https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/145211903/m%3D900/295cb162d863db16975438e15f47a238" alt="Golden Fields by Joey Doll on 500px.com" />
</a></p>
<p><strong>Summary of Big Island trip</strong>
March 8 – 15th, 2016</p>
<p><strong>Tuesday</strong>
Flight, drive from Kailua-Kona to Hilo</p>
<p><strong>Wednesday</strong>
Drive to Volcanoes National Park, Kilauea Iki loop, Hike to Keauhou
11 miles backpacking</p>
<p><strong>Thursday</strong>
Return from Keauhou, hike to Napau
13 miles backpacking</p>
<p><strong>Friday</strong>
Return from Napau, drive to Kona, Manta Ray snorkeling
6 miles backpacking</p>
<p><strong>Saturday</strong>
Honokohau Beach, drive to Fairmont Orchid
2 miles hiking</p>
<p><strong>Sunday</strong>
Lay on beach, snorkeling</p>
<p><strong>Monday</strong>
Puu Waawaa Cinder Cone, A-Bay
9 miles hiking</p>
<p><strong>Tuesday</strong>
Return flight</p>
<p><strong>Tuesday</strong>
We had an uneventful flight from SJC to KOA. The security line at SJC was long enough to finally spur us to register for one of the TSA pre-clearance programs.We arrived in Kailua-Kona in the afternoon and drove east across the island to Hilo to get an early start backpacking the next day (daylight hours and permit office closed at 4 pm).</p>
<p>This was our first backpacking trip that required flying to the destination. We each brought a backpack and a duffel bag for post-backpacking hotel time. One novelty was that we left our fuel canisters, lighter and multitool (security) at home in addition to our hiking poles (limited space). Online reports indicated that we could pick up Jetboil canisters from Sports Authority, but we had no such luck at the Hilo location. Fortunately, there is a <a href="http://www.jetboil.com/Dealer-Locator/">Jetboil dealer</a> located in Hilo, <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/kapohokine-adventures-hilo-2">KapohoKine Adventurs</a>.</p>
<p>There were quite a few vegan-friendly food options in Hilo, and we opted to visit <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/prabhas-indian-restaurant-hilo-2">Prabha’s</a>, which was delicious. Hilo was not particularly photogenic, and so I didn’t take any photos.</p>
<p>After our Iceland trip, which was similar to this trip in many respects, we enjoyed the perks of traveling within the United States: English, Starbucks, and no SIM card swapping for data. The Iceland trip involved a significant amount of driving and we mostly did short day hikes, with the exception of a <a href="https://500px.com/photo/140204235/things-got-exciting-once-we-entered-the-dense-fog-can-you-spot-the-pole-this-was-one-of-the-by-joey-doll">long day hike</a> in the hills above Akureyri. The Hawaii trip was planned to address those issues via relatively short drives (<2 hours each day) and a significant amount of mileage as originally planned, before the weather interfered.</p>
<p><strong>Wednesday</strong>
We arrived at the Volcanoes National Park backcountry office after a short drive from Hilo. Our original plan was to do a one-night trip to the coast before a two-night climb to the summit of Mauna Loa, stopping one night each at Red Hill Cabin and Mauna Loa Cabin. It was a fairly ambitious plan, averaging 15-20 miles per day. The mountain was closed above Red Hill Cabin due to high winds, but the ranger thought that it would reopen the next day, and so we headed to the coast and planned to return the next day to check on Mauna Loa.</p>
<p>One interesting aspect of backpacking in the park is that water is only available from rainwater collection at cabins/shelters, and the availability of water can drive your trip itinerary. For the coast trip, we originally planned to visit Halape. However, the rainwater storage was nearly empty because it is a popular destination, and so we opted for nearby Keauhou. In addition to rainwater collection, the shelters provide protection from the sun and high winds on the coast.</p>
<p>Before heading out, we decided to visit two popular nearby destinations: Thurston Lava Tube and Kilauea Iki. The lava tube was underwhelming compared with the rest of the trip, but makes for a popular tourist destination - our walk through it preceded the arrival of multiple full tour buses. Kilauea Iki, on the other hand, was a fantastic short hike (~3 miles) and we would highly recommend it.</p>
<p>Afterwards we drove to the trailhead of the Keauhou Trail and headed down towards the coast. The first portion was through lava fields marked by cairns before transitioning to grasslands. It’s worth noting that hiking through the lava in the dark would be fairly treacherous due to the lack of trail markings except for the cairns, which would be nearly invisible (black-on-black). The trail tended to follow the lava flows, and so it was consistently rocky and windy.</p>
<p>We reached the Keauhou shelter, set back 1/3 of a mile from the ocean, after about 2.5 hours. We did not encounter any other hikers on the Keauhou trip (either out or back), which was fortunate because the shelter would have been a cozy fit for two tents. We explored the beach and took some photos before returning to the shelter to wrap up for the day. Although the lack of the usual bears was great (cook near your tent, no bear canister required), the ground was absolutely swarming with ants, and so food preparation required some care. The wind howled all night, and camping outside of the shelter would have been madness.</p>
<p><a href="https://500px.com/photo/145212653/thurston-lava-tube-by-joey-doll">
<img src="https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/145212653/m%3D900/bdb00eb1685dfe86916cbf040b040cd7" alt="Thurston Lava Tube by Joey Doll on 500px.com" />
</a></p>
<p><a href="https://500px.com/photo/145212385/through-the-rain-by-joey-doll">
<img src="https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/145212385/m%3D900/16b15fd80c9a305a17eadefec1231abc" alt="Through the Rain by Joey Doll on 500px.com" />
</a></p>
<p><a href="https://500px.com/photo/145212241/halape-cliffs-by-joey-doll">
<img src="https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/145212241/m%3D900/a03bcc5b3f5afc88b4917152a91c5eb3" alt="Halape Cliffs by Joey Doll on 500px.com" />
</a></p>
<p><a href="https://500px.com/photo/145212215/keauhou-shelter-and-bathroom-by-joey-doll">
<img src="https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/145212215/m%3D900/2167e459f6e7655ea9892440e2132214" alt="Keauhou Shelter and Bathroom by Joey Doll on 500px.com" />
</a></p>
<p><a href="https://500px.com/photo/145212137/high-winds-by-joey-doll">
<img src="https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/145212137/m%3D900/47e681834ca03e7834f4294c203065f1" alt="High Winds by Joey Doll on 500px.com" />
</a></p>
<p><strong>Thursday</strong>
The hike back up from the beach was even windier than on the way down, and so we were not feeling good about our chances of hiking Mauna Loa. This was confirmed when we reached the backcountry office. We decided to do another out-and-back to Napau, but decided to drown our sorrows in Thai food before heading out.</p>
<p>The first half of the Napau hike was in a lava field and the scenery was reminiscent of Mordor - gray and rocky to the horizon with steam rising from the ground. We passed by several enormous craters and ventured as closed as we dared with the high winds, but photos don’t capture the sense of scale. The last several miles transitioned to a lightly traveled jungle trail. Hiking through it with shorts and sunburnt legs was character building, and I would highly encourage anyone reading this to take the time to pull on pants before entering the jungle.</p>
<p>The endpoint was a small clearing with a short walk to another excellent crater view. We encountered a few dayhikers but the trail was relatively empty, and we did not encounter any backpackers. Unlike Keauhou, there was no shelter at the endpoint and hence no water. We each carried 4L though, and water was not a problem. Overall, we would recommend skipping Napau and instead sticking to the coast or to the summit if it is open.</p>
<p>Besides the other various differences between backpacking in Hawaii and the Sierras (weather, scenery, terrain, wildlife, water), it is worth commenting on the bathroom experience. Every backpacking destination that we visited in Volcanoes National Park had a composting toilet, which was unexpected. The Keauhou facilities were amazing - between the raised height and the open sides it represented the pinnacle of the bathroom experience. In contrast, the Napau facility was a closed building with a horde of spiders living inside, and only a crazy person would use it.</p>
<p>Besides the Napau bathroom spiders and the Keauhou ants, the only other wildlife that we encountered was a Small Asian mongoose who tried to eat our food at Napau. Surprisingly/fortunately there were no enormous spiders inhabiting the very narrow jungle path that we took to Napau.</p>
<p><a href="https://500px.com/photo/145211633/where-the-shadows-lie-by-joey-doll">
<img src="https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/145211633/m%3D900/54f6d2a03ffbef4be9cde865b13abe9f" alt="Where the Shadows Lie. by Joey Doll on 500px.com" />
</a></p>
<p><a href="https://500px.com/photo/145211463/makaopuhi-crater-by-joey-doll">
<img src="https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/145211463/m%3D900/bfd33e403d164d4116f973c267f430ff" alt="Makaopuhi Crater by Joey Doll on 500px.com" />
</a></p>
<p><a href="https://500px.com/photo/145211363/crater-on-crater-by-joey-doll">
<img src="https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/145211363/m%3D900/84667bdadf0fb4a1277336e179c6f414" alt="Crater on Crater by Joey Doll on 500px.com" />
</a></p>
<p><a href="https://500px.com/photo/145211311/napau-camp-by-joey-doll">
<img src="https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/145211311/m%3D900/a1db7ec303022ff6f362913d642aa4ed" alt="Napau Camp by Joey Doll on 500px.com" />
</a></p>
<p><strong>Friday</strong>
It rained sporadically in the morning as we hiked out of Napau. At the backcountry office we found that Mauna Loa was still closed, so we decided to grab lunch at <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/cafe-ono-volcano-2">Cafe Ono</a> (meh) and decide on our next move. The park ranger had recommended a trip to Pepeiao in the Ka’u Desert, but after perusing photos online it was hard to get excited about it.</p>
<p>We decided to cut out one night earlier than planned from the park and stay at the Sheraton in Kailua-Kona to snorkel with Manta Rays. Before leaving the park, we drove to the end of Chain of Craters road and saw the sea arch.</p>
<p>We took the south route around the island towards Kona, and although there was traffic at several points it was a pleasant drive. The snorkeling experience with <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/my-kona-adventures-kealakekua-3">My Kona Adventures</a> was great. We would highly recommend the experience in general and that snorkeling outfit specifically (friendly, stayed out on the water longer than planned waiting for a manta ray to show up, fresh pineapple afterwards).</p>
<p><a href="https://500px.com/photo/145211261/more-mordor-by-joey-doll">
<img src="https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/145211261/m%3D900/d8dbe0a1b82dde7b50f0ec7b5361cb1b" alt="More Mordor by Joey Doll on 500px.com" />
</a></p>
<p><a href="https://500px.com/photo/145211119/chain-of-craters-road-by-joey-doll">
<img src="https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/145211119/m%3D900/14edbeacdf49ee7ad857b4ebde331d24" alt="Chain of Craters Road by Joey Doll on 500px.com" />
</a></p>
<p><a href="https://500px.com/photo/145211073/holei-sea-arch-by-joey-doll">
<img src="https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/145211073/m%3D900/944417f1a217b65522a62da6c5d10c5c" alt="Holei Sea Arch by Joey Doll on 500px.com" />
</a></p>
<p><strong>Saturday</strong>
We drove up the cost from Kailua-Kona to the Fairmont Orchid, stopping at the <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/lotus-cafe-and-juice-bar-encinitas">Lotus Cafe</a> for lunch. The food and gelato were both great, and we would recommend it as a good food/gas stop on your way to or from the airport. We also stopped at Honokohau Beach for a short walk and saw numerous sea turtles. The rest of the drive was uneventful.</p>
<p>After arriving at the hotel, we walked one mile to a nearby shopping center to grab dinner at <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/under-the-bodhi-tree-kamuela">Under the Bodhi Tree</a>. We ate the majority of our meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) over the next few days. Besides the lack of vegan options at the Fairmont Orchid, the food was far more reasonably priced, delicious, and it was a pleasant walk. Dishes that were particularly exceptional: french toast, Reuben sandwich, and the veggie burger. Afterwards we walked back to the hotel and enjoyed mixed drinks while watching the sunset.</p>
<p><a href="https://500px.com/photo/145211001/black-on-white-by-joey-doll">
<img src="https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/145211001/m%3D900/f145c9432fd7cd13227f5ccb69cd576f" alt="Black on White by Joey Doll on 500px.com" />
</a></p>
<p><a href="https://500px.com/photo/145210677/resting-by-joey-doll">
<img src="https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/145210677/m%3D900/9f6b3f49153634d5e6810bf86527800d" alt="Resting by Joey Doll on 500px.com" />
</a></p>
<p><a href="https://500px.com/photo/145210759/perspectives-by-joey-doll">
<img src="https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/145210759/m%3D900/82867bdf1291ea14cb3350899a0721a6" alt="Perspectives by Joey Doll on 500px.com" />
</a></p>
<p><strong>Sunday</strong>
After enjoying some french toast, scrambled tofu and french press at Under The Bodhi Tree, we read on the beach and snorkeled for most of the day. Snorkeling was a success and we encountered a sea turtle and an eel in addition to the swarms of fish. Afterwards, we did some more reading on the beach and enjoyed the sunset again.</p>
<p><a href="https://500px.com/photo/145210531/orange-sunset-by-joey-doll">
<img src="https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/145210531/m%3D900/90689cbb6d59e27b7fe32e4a444804f6" alt="Orange Sunset by Joey Doll on 500px.com" />
</a></p>
<p><a href="https://500px.com/photo/145210517/palm-sunset-by-joey-doll">
<img src="https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/145210517/m%3D900/48d7968881ad9d011e787432e1159e5d" alt="Palm Sunset by Joey Doll on 500px.com" />
</a></p>
<p><strong>Monday</strong>
We got back to hiking after a day of laying on the beach. First up was a Cinder Cone hike, which was reminiscent of Mission Peak in the Bay Area. Afterwards we picked up Starbucks and Thai food, then did a few miles of hiking at A-Bay.</p>
<p><a href="https://500px.com/photo/145210369/pu-u-wa-awa-a-cinder-cone-by-joey-doll">
<img src="https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/145210369/m%3D900/1fb97d96b5e19b32ffcdaaa3d706336e" alt="Pu" />
</a></p>
<p><a href="https://500px.com/photo/145210327/desolation-by-joey-doll">
<img src="https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/145210327/m%3D900/cd314b0dd5c51388a6f0bc0deec51daf" alt="Desolation by Joey Doll on 500px.com" />
</a></p>
<p><a href="https://500px.com/photo/145210079/picture-perfect-form-by-joey-doll">
<img src="https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/145210079/m%3D900/a0983b5fa0e48be99a8fa30b17c259df" alt="Picture Perfect Form by Joey Doll on 500px.com" />
</a></p>
<p><a href="https://500px.com/photo/145209859/waves-rolling-in-by-joey-doll">
<img src="https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/145209859/m%3D900/5957ac0278caee553fac4f310a28adb4" alt="Waves Rolling In by Joey Doll on 500px.com" />
</a></p>
<p><a href="https://500px.com/photo/145209835/rocky-profile-by-joey-doll">
<img src="https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/145209835/m%3D900/9011bbcf96bd1cf99e3cd24fb5ab27be" alt="Rocky Profile by Joey Doll on 500px.com" />
</a></p>
<p><strong>Tuesday</strong>
On our last day in Hawaii, we had a lazy morning and then drove down the highway to the airport.</p>
<p><strong>Photo gear</strong>
I used some new gear on this trip.</p>
<ul>
<li>Peak Design Capture Pro</li>
<li>Ultrapod II</li>
<li>Canon 6D with 24-105L and Rokinon 14mm</li>
<li>Sony RX100 iii</li>
</ul>
<p>The Capture Pro and Ultrapod were fantastic and I will bring both of them on every trip in the future. The 6D was a bit heavy, and carrying it on my shoulder with the Capture Pro resulted in some numbness that persisted for about a week after the trip. For future trips I will either bring it and mount it in a different location, bring the RX100 instead, or invest in an APS-C mirrorless to save a few pounds.</p>jcdollDomain++2016-03-08T00:00:00+00:002016-03-08T00:00:00+00:00http://dogplusplus.com/2016/03/08/domain-plus-plus<p>The old domain name (guyslikedolls) was feeling stale after almost ten years. Remedying this problem was a good vacation project. Welcome to dog++.</p>
<p><a href="https://500px.com/photo/140222749/untitled-by-joey-doll">
<img src="https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/140222749/m%3D900/03a9eacd723f0c66e68f9c598fcc647a" alt="Untitled by Joey Doll on 500px.com" />
</a></p>jcdollThe old domain name (guyslikedolls) was feeling stale after almost ten years. Remedying this problem was a good vacation project. Welcome to dog++.A new home for photos2016-03-07T00:00:00+00:002016-03-07T00:00:00+00:00http://dogplusplus.com/2016/03/07/a-new-home-for-photos<p>With the imminent demise of Picasa, I decided to move my photos over to <a href="https://500px.com/jcdoll">500px</a>. The sidebar link on the right has been updated.</p>
<p>I considered migrating back to Flickr, but decided to try a new product that seems to have a brighter future.</p>
<p>Existing photos, such as <a href="http://veganomnom.dogplusplus.com/">veganomnom</a>, will continue to live on Picasa until it explodes and I need to update links.</p>
<p><a href="https://500px.com/photo/148673677/untitled-by-joey-doll">
<img src="https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/148673677/m%3D900/44773634b4d7dd7f2b4955dab39c1a7f" alt="Untitled by Joey Doll on 500px.com" />
</a></p>jcdollWith the imminent demise of Picasa, I decided to move my photos over to 500px. The sidebar link on the right has been updated.Minecraft documentary2013-11-13T00:00:00+00:002013-11-13T00:00:00+00:00http://dogplusplus.com/2013/11/13/minecraft-documentary<p>We watched the Minecraft documentary last year and give it our highest possible recommendation. You can watch it for free on YouTube (see embedded player below).</p>
<p>Also, the soundtrack (by C418) is fantastic work music that fueled many SiTime tapeouts.</p>jcdollWe watched the Minecraft documentary last year and give it our highest possible recommendation. You can watch it for free on YouTube (see embedded player below).